Drones: the need for debate and regulation

Justin Randle

Federal

Technological development has led to a massive proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (‘UAV’) and unmanned aerial systems (‘UAS’) — often referred to as drones — in defence, law enforcement and civilian settings.

The uses of drones are wide and varied including agricultural and emergency services, journalism and surveillance. They can also be lethal. President Obama has presided over a major increase in a multi-agency network of drones carrying out extrajudicial assassinations of suspected ‘militants,’ particularly in Northern Pakistan.

Place-Based Income Management

Crystal McKinnon and Louise Hicks

Federal

The 2011–12 Federal Budget announced approaches to address disadvantage and ‘build Australia’s future workforce’, one of which is rollout of ‘Place-Based Income Management’ to trial sites across Australia. From 1 July 2012, those people whose usual place of residence is within one of the five trial sites (Greater Shepparton, Victoria; Logan and Rockhampton, Queensland; Bankstown, New South Wales; and Playford, South Australia) may be subject to having their Centrelink payments withheld and directed into an account to be spent on negotiated ‘priority needs’ including items such as food, clothing, housing and utilities.

National School Chaplaincy Program: The conclusion

Renae Barker

Federal

DUAO Volume 36(3) reported the background to the High Court challenge of the Federal Government’s National School Chaplaincy Program (‘NSCP’) by Queensland father Ronald Williams [Williams v Commonwealth of Australia [2012] HCA 23]. The long-awaited decision was finally handed down on 20 June 2012.

The National Bulk Debt Project

The National Bulk Debt Project is helping vulnerable Australians on very low (or no) incomes to ensure they can use their income for food, shelter and household bills by negotiating bulk waivers.

In 2010, West Heidelberg Community Legal Service successfully conducted the first ‘bulk debt negotiation’ on behalf of 425 disadvantaged and vulnerable clients, who were referred by legal aid offices, legal centres and financial counselling agencies across Australia.

Return Orders, The Hague Convention and The Rights of Children

Ross Vernon Bowler

Federal

As a result of an Italian father invoking The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (‘the Convention’) to have his children returned to Italy from Australia the High Court of Australia has been asked to consider the rights of the children. The Family Court found nothing sufficient in the matters prescribed in r 16(3) of the Family Law (Child Abduction Convention) Regulations 1986 (Cth) to prevent ordering the return of the children to Italy.